How to use Android's Desktop mode to turn your phone into a tiny PC

You can plug recent Pixel phones into a monitor to get a desktop-style interface. How to use Android’s Desktop mode to turn your phone into a tiny PC. Big Tech Google How to use Android’s Desktop mode to turn your phone into a tiny PC You can plug recent Pixel phones into a monitor to get a desktop-style interface.

But hardware experiments like Asus’ PadFone and the Motorola Atrix Lapdock didn’t catch on with users as vendors expected. Companies took to software experiences in their attempts to grant desktop-grade functionality. Microsoft’s short-lived Continuum feature for Windows 10 Mobile was discontinued in 2017.

Samsung’s DeX lets its Galaxy phones deliver a PC-like workspace with a taskbar, optimized apps and wireless connectivity. And Motorola’s phones continue to offer its Smart Connect experience. Now, after months of being in beta, the Android 16 March Pixel Drop update brought Android Desktop Mode to the Pixel 8 and up.

Google and Samsung are great, but these or similar features would make them even better. 5 of my favorite Android features you won’t find on Samsung or Pixel phones.

5 of my favorite Android features that Samsung and Google keep ignoring. There are several reasons for this, including better software update support than the competition and a large selection of exclusive hardware and software features.

For those in North America, it’s also because these are the two largest Android brands left. While it’s true that Samsung and Google have many exclusive features, they aren’t the only ones.

Below are a few features that both brands either miss entirely or don’t do as well, all of which I would personally love to see come to more devices. Of all the features mentioned, which would you most like to see on Pixel or Galaxy.

81 votes Ultra-fast charging 37 % IR blaster 33 % Second desktop and advanced app cloning 9 % Moto Actions (or similar) 12 % Nothing Glyph (or similar) 9 % Other (Tell us in the comments) 0 % Ultra-fast charging technology Stephen Radochia / While fast charging is pretty common these days, not all of us have the same definition of what that means.

Connect your Pixel 8 or a newer Google phone to an external monitor with a high-speed USB-C cable, and a pop-up will prompt you to switch to Android Desktop Mode or use it as a mirror.